The 12-12-12 concert at Madison Square Garden will be available on television or online to around two billion people, said James Dolan, one of the producers. A total of 34 US television networks have agreed to show the concert, which begins at 7.30 pm US time on Wednesday (12.30am GMT).

Harvey Weinstein, the movie executive who is producing the show along with Cablevision chief Dolan and John Sykes, head of Clear Channel Communications, said that £18.7 million had been raised for victims of the storm, which hit the New York City region hard on October 29.

The concert is sold out and producers urged fans who do not already have tickets not to buy them through brokers such as StubHub, where people have been trying to sell seats at a price higher than the list prices of £94- £1,560.

The concert lineup is "99 %" set, Mr Sykes said. Sir Paul will be the closer, followed by a finale involving many artists. It is due to end around midnight, but may go on longer.